Process and apparatus for spreading granular material

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for spreading granular material for use primarily in a conventional circular storage bin having a floor and a material evacuating unit: the apparatus having a hopper for receiving the material dumped therein through a roof opening by a conventional elevator, and having further a vertically adjustable rotatable pan disposed beneath the hopper for receiving and holding the material, with the upper edge of the pan outer wall disposed above the lower edge of the hopper bottom whereby the pan is not rotated, the pan will fill up with the material and then the throat of the hopper will clog with the material, and including further motorized means operable to rotate the pan so that the material is thrown outwardly of the pan by centrifugal force, the material then falling on the bin floor in a level manner. A switch device is built into one side of the hopper and is responsive to material clogging up the hopper to automatically turn on the motor so as to rotate the pan, thus insuring that no material is discharged into the bin unless the spreader is operating at full capacity.

United States Patent Louks [54] PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SPREADINGGRANULAR MATERIAL [72] inventor: Robert A. Louks, Gilman, Iowa [22]Filed: June 18, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 47,402

[52] US. Cl. ..2l4/17 CB, 214/152, 222/66, 239/687 [51 Int. Cl ..B65g65/32 [58] Field of Search ..214/l7-CA,17 CB, 152; 198/128; 302/60;239/676, 687; 222/66 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,262,586 7/1966 Smiley et a1. ..2l4/l7 CB 3,170,264 2/1965 Waldrum..239/687 X 3,094,334 6/1963 Middleton et al ..198/128 X 1,892,7901/1933 Smelser ..222/66 X 2,822,097 2/1958 Lee ..2l4/l7 CB PrimaryExaminer-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-Henderson & Strom 1 1 Oct. 17, 1972This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for spreadinggranular material for use primarily in a conventional circular storagebin having a floor and a material evacuating unit: the apparatus havinga hopper for receiving the material dumped therein through a roofopening by a conventional elevator, and having further a verticallyadjustable rotatable pan disposed beneath the hopper for receiving andholding the material, with the upper edge of the pan outer wall disposedabove the lower edge of the hopper bottom whereby the pan is notrotated, the pan will fill up with the material and then the throat ofthe hopper will clog with the material, and including further motorizedmeans operable to rotate the pan so that the material is thrownoutwardly of the pan by centrifugal force, the material then falling onthe bin floor in a level manner.

A switch device is built into one side of the hopper and is responsiveto material clogging up the hopper to automatically turn on the motor soas to rotate the pan, thus insuring that no material is discharged intothe bin unless the spreader is operating at full capacity.

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SHEET 1 [IF 2 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SPREADING GRANULAR MATERIALBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to granularmaterial dryers for use within a conventional circular storage binhaving a floor, a sweep auger, a discharge auger for removing thegranular material dumped into a sump opening by the sweep auger, and anair treatment apparatus wherein normally heated air is forced beneaththe perforated floor of the bin, from whence the air moves upwardlythrough the floor and any material that is on top of the floor, the airpicking up moisture from the granular material as it moves upwardly andfrom whence it is exhausted to the atmosphere through the upper part ofthe bin.

To applicants knowledge, there is only one type of process and apparatusfor spreading granular material in a drying bin involving a spinner-typeapparatus. This apparatus includes a hopper for receiving granularmaterial at the top, from an elevator which discharges the materialthrough a bin hatch opening, and at the bottom of the hopper is provideda fan like device comprised of a plurality of blades which upon rotationstrike the granular material and throw it outwardly in all directionswhere upon it falls upon the floor of the bin.

Applicant has ascertained several disadvantages in this type of systemand apparatus. One is that the device operates at all times regardlessof the amount of granular material in the hopper, whereupon the patternof the grain as it falls into the bin is not constant and the layerwhich is laid on the perforated floor is not level. Secondly, as thegranular material is discharged by being struck, a high rating of themotor is required as compared to a low capacity of the structure.Furthermore, it is known that striking grain damages it, immediatelyreducing its quality and value.

To overcome these disadvantages, applicant has provided that thespreader will not operate unless material is in the hopper at all times,such that a full capacity of the granular material is discharged at alltimes providing a constant pattern and a level fall of the material.Secondly, by using centrifugal force to spin out the material, a horsepower rating of the motor lower than that of the contemporary spreaderis possible, along with an increased capacity.

Additionally, by the adjustability of the relationship of the pan to thehopper, the capacity of the spreader can be readily changed. This isadvantageous in matching the capacity of the spreader to the capacity ofthe auger or elevator which is feeding the granular material into thehopper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a process and anapparatus for spreading granular material in a circular storage binhaving a wall, a lower perforated floor spaced above a base floor, arotatable sweep auger for removing material from about the perforatedfloor, a discharge auger for discharging the removed material to a pointexterior the bin, and a heater-blower unit for forcing the heated, dryair through the perforated floor and into the granular material restingon top of same; the invention going particularly to the spreaderapparatus which comprises a funnel shaped hopper having a large open enddirectly below the opening in the apex of the bin roof, with the hoppertapering downwardly to a smaller lower end beneath which is a circularpan concentrically and rotatably mounted relative to the center of thehopper, the pan adapted to receive material from the hopper, fill up,and then clog the lower throat of the hopper such that when the pan isnot rotating, granular material will not flow through the hopper.

Means responsive to their being granular material in the hopper isprovided for rotating the pan so as to discharge the material in a 360circle about the pan, throwing the material so that it falls on to thefloor, some of the material striking the bin wall and bin roof wherebythe material on the floor piles up with the top layer level for the mostefficient use of the drying equipment.

it is an object of this invention to provide a novel process forspreading granular material in a conventional circular storage bin.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus forspreading granular material within a conventional circular storage bin.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus forspreading granular material wherein the apparatus does not operateunless it is spreading material at a constant rate.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a granularmaterial spreading apparatus wherein the apparatus is capable ofretaining and holding the granular material when the apparatus isinoperable.

[t is still another object of this invention to provide a granularmaterial spreading apparatus utilizing the advantages of centrifugalforce in the spreading of the granular material as compared to strikingand thereby throwing the granular material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved processfor spreading granular material wherein the material is directeddownwardly in a controlled manner as it is dumped into the bin, iscaught and held at a certain point as it falls, is piled up so as toprevent further material from falling through that which is caught andheld, is then thrown outwardly about a 360 circle by the use ofcentrifugal force, whereupon the material falls to the floor of the binfor drying purposes.

Yet another object of this invention is provide a process for spreadinggranular material within a conventional drying bin, which processcomprises the steps hereinbefore enumerated, and which can include thegranular material striking either or both the bin roof and the sidewalls prior to its falling to the floor of the bin.

A further object of this invention is to provide a granular spreadingapparatus that is capable of fulfilling the aforementioned objectives,and which is simple in use, economical of manufacture, and efficient inoperation.

These objects and other features and advantages of this invention willbecome readily apparent upon referring to the following description whentaken into conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRlEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FlG. l is an elevational view of theinterior of a conventional grain bin within which the granular spreaderapparatus of this invention has been installed, with certain partsbroken away and others shown in section for clarity of illustration:

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the spreader apparatus of thisinvention as taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view as taken along the line 33 inFIG. 2',

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view as taken along theline 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the spreader apparatusas taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4, and with certain parts incross-section and others broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the drive motor unit of this invention as takenalong the line 6-6 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a reduced elevational view of the interior of t the grain bin,with certain parts eliminated for clarity of illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,an apparatus for treating granular materials of this invention isindicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1, and is used primarily for thedrying, curing, aeration and storage of granular material 11.

The apparatus 10 includes a conventional circular drying bin 12 (FIG. 1)having a side wall 13 and a conically shaped roof 14 mounted thereon. Anopening 16 is formed in the apex of the roof 14 and has a bin hatch 17(FIG. 3) secured thereabout. The spreader assembly 18 of this inventionis suspended from the bin hatch I7 and will be described hereinafter indetail.

The spreader assembly 18 receives material from an elevator 20 (FIG. 1),and upon operation discharges the material outwardly and upwardly sothat the material, some of which strikes the under surface of the roofl4 and the inner surface of the sidewall 13, falls downwardly upon aperforated floor 19 so as to form a substantially level layer ofmaterial.

The floor 19 (FIG. I) is supported above a concrete base 21 for the bin12, whereby a chamber 22 is formed therebetween and into which treatedair is blown by means of a heater-blower unit 23. When desirable todischarge the granular material from the bin 12, a conventional sweepauger 24 is operated in conjunction with a discharge auger 26 by meansof a drive motor assembly 28, and whereby the material is removed fromthe interior of the bin downwardly through a sump opening 28, andoutwardly through a tunnel 29 within which the discharge auger 26 ismounted. The discharged granular material is then removed from the outerend of the discharge auger 26 by any conventional means.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 6 inclusive, one embodiment of thespreader assembly 18 of this invention is illustrated which comprisesbasically a hopper unit (FIG. 3) indicated generally at 31 and which issupported by a plurality of chains 32 to the bin hatch l7, and includesfurther a rotatably mounted pan unit 33 at the bottom of the hopper unit31, a pan rotating unit 34 disposed beneath said pan unit 33, and a panrotating control unit indicated generally at 36 for operating the panrotating unit 34 only when the pan unit 33 is filled with granularmaterial and when the material also extends upwardly into the hopperunit 31 a predetermined distance.

The hopper unit 31 (FIG. 3) comprises a funnel shaped, circular hopper37 which has an open inlet end 38 directly below and concentricallyarranged with the bin hatch 17, and includes further an open dischargeend 39 of a diameter smaller than that of the inlet end 38. The hopper37 is mounted with its longitudinal axis in a generally verticaldisposition, and is secured to an elongated tube 41 by an upper trio ofrod devices 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3), and by a lower trio of rod devices 43(FIG. 4), both groups of devices 42 and 43 secured at their inner endsto a pair of bushings 44 and 46 which are fixed to the tube 41.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it is noted that the discharge end 39 of thehopper 37 is not funnel shaped itself, but has a constant diameter for ashort length, and is frictionally embraced by a circular feed controlband 47, the lower edge 48 of which is always maintained below the upperedge 49 of the pan unit 33. The purpose of this will be describedhereinafter. The feed control band 47 is provided with a trio ofdiagonally formed slots 51 through which extend the lower trio of roddevices 43. A rotating lug 52 is secured to the band 47, whereby uponstriking the lug 52, the feed control band 47 is rotated about thedischarge end 39, and with the rod devices 43 coacting within the slots51 to either move the band 47 vertically upwardly or downwardly on thedischarge end 39, depending upon the direction which the lug 52 isdriven.

The hopper unit 31 is suspended at a variable distance below the binhatch 17 by means of the chains 32, and wherein the upper end of eachchain is secured to a book 53 (FIG. 3) which is an intregal part of aclamp 54 secured in turn to the bin hatch 17. Intermediate the length ofeach chain, the chain is fastened to an adjusting device 56 which issecured to the inlet end 38 of the hopper 37. The lower end 57 of eachchain is secured to the outer end of an upper rod device 42. By thisarrangement, not only is the vertical distance of the hopper 37adjustable relative to the bin hatch 17, but also it is secured so thatthe tube 41 is vertically disposed. This positions the spreader assembly18 for its most efficient operation.

The pan unit 33 comprises a circular pan 58 best illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5, which pan 58 is concentrically mounted relative to the tube 41and comprises an upper wall 59 extending above a flat bottom or floor61. A depending drive flange 62 is provided and it will be noted thatthe upper edge 49 of the upper wall 59 extends above the lower edge 48of the feed control band 47.

An opening 63 (FIG. 4) is formed in the floor 61 in an offset mannerrelative to the center thereof, and can be completely covered oruncovered as the case may be by a slide plate 64 having a slot 66therein through which a fastener 67 secures the slide plate 64 to thefloor 61 of the pan 58. Depending below the floor 61 and securedthereto, so as to encompass the opening 63, is a depending wall 70 of adiameter smaller than the diameter of the upper pan wall 59. The purposeof this depending wall 70 is to direct granular material falling throughthe opening 63 in a certain downward direction and to cover a certainarea.

The pan rotating unit 34 of the spreader assembly 18 comprises a motor68 (FIGS. 3 and 6), which is electrically connected by a cord 69extending through the tube 41, and which cord 69 is connected to aswitch 71, a part of the pan rotating control unit 36, and with the cordhaving a male end 72 for connection to a source of electrical energy ata position preferably outside the bin 12 for easy operator control.

The motor 68 is secured by a bracket 73 and a pair of arms 74 to thelower end of the tube 41, and is biased outwardly by a spring and rodunit indicated generally at 76 in FIG. 6. Extending in an upright,vertically disposed manner is an output shaft 77 (FIG. 3) of the motor,and secured to the upper end thereof is a hard rubber roller 78. Thebiasing arrangement is such that upon operation of the motor 68,rotation of the roller 78 provides a frictional drive against the innersurface of the drive flange 62, whereby the pan is rotated about abearing 79 upon which it is mounted, and with the bearing 79 beingsecured to the tube 41.

The pan rotating control unit 36 is best illustrated in FIG. 3, andincludes a plate 81 which is pivotally mounted at 82 to a receptacle 86,with the plate 81 normally leaning toward the hopper 37 as illustratedin full lines in FIG. 3. The plate 81 partially encloses a chamber opento the interior of the hopper 37 by means of an opening 84 formed in theside thereof. A support 83 is formed integral with the plate 81 andpivots therewith, and carries the mercury switch 71, which switch closesa circuit to the drive motor 68 when in the dotted line position of FIG.3, and which switch 71 opens the circuit to the motor so as to rendersame inoperable when the plate 81 is resting against the hopper 37.

The operation of the pan rotating control unit 36 is such that upongrain being discharged into the hopper 37 by the elevator 20, thematerial is directed downwardly by the hopper 37 and is then caught andheld by the pan 58. As the lower end 48 of the hopper 37 is below theupper edge 49 of the pan, the end 48 will be filled before anyappreciable granular material spills over the side of the pan 58. Thematerial then backs up in the clogged hopper 37 until the plate 81 isforced backward and in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3.At that time the switch 71 operates to close the circuit, whereupon themotor 68 operates to rotate the pan unit 33.

Rotation of the circular pan 58 throws the granular material upwardlyand outwardly therefrom due to centrifugal force, whereupon the granularmaterial either falls directly to the floor 19 of the bin 12, or strikesthe sidewall 13 of the bin, thence falling to the floor 19, or strikesthe underside of the roof l4 and thence falls to the floor 19. It isconceivable that some of the granular material may actually strike boththe roof 14 and the bin sidewall 13 prior to the floor 19. By thisarrangement, the granular material is spread on the entire bin floor 19in a substantially level manner for the most efficient utilization ofthe drying and treatment thereof.

In certain instances, it is desirable to have the pan floor opening 63somewhat uncovered by the slide plate 64 so as also to dischargegranular material through that opening 63 for covering a portion of thecentral area of the bin floor 19 or a layer thereon, and for insuring alevel condition of the upper portion of the layer of grain. Althoughwhen the opening 63 is not completely covered some granular materialfalls through same, it has been found that particularly with the use ofcorn and like particulate materials, this opening will also clog whenthe pan is not being rotated.

If a larger elevator auger 20 is used, or if the operator desires toincrease the rate of discharge in granular material through the spreaderassembly, the feed control band 47 can be rotated so as to raise itslower edge 48, and space it further upwardly from the pan floor 61. itcan readily be appreciated that the higher away from the floor 61 thelower edge 48 of the band 47 is, the greater the quantity of granularmaterial which is spun away by the rotating pan 58. Tests have shownthat 3,000 bushels of corn per hour can be discharged through thespreader assembly 18, using a one-half horsepower motor 68.

A further adjustment for changing the capacity of the spreader assemblyis provided, in that the rod device bushings 44 and 46 can be moved onthe tube 41 so as to vertically reposition the entire hopper 37 relativeto the pan 58, providing therefore this adjustment in addition to thecapacity adjustment of the feed control band 47.

As soon as the elevator 20 ceases discharging granular material into thespreader assembly 18, such that the level of the granular materialwithin the hopper 37 drops below the pivotal plate 81, the plate willswing to its normal full line position of FIG. 3, thus stopping themotor 68 prior to a complete removal of all granular material from thespreader assembly. By this arrangement, wherein the motor 68 neveroperates unless a predetermined rate of granular material is spread, alevel layer of material in the bin is always insured.

1 claim: 1. in an enclosed grain bin having a floor, a wall, a roof, andan opening central of the roof adapted to have particulate materialdumped therethrough, an assembly for spreading the particulate materialevenly on and above the floor comprising:

a hopper having an inlet opening at a top end thereof and a dischargeopening at a bottom end thereof;

means connected between said hopper and the roof for locating said inletopening below the roof opening to receive the material dumpedtherethrough;

a pan rotatably mounted below said bottom end and capable of holding thematerial, the pan having an upper edge disposed higher than the loweredge of said bottom end;

means for rotating said pan whereby to throw the material therefrom; and

control means attached to said hopper and responsive to the materialtherein, said control means operable to operate said pan rotating meansonly when the material has filled the pan to the hopper dischargeopening and fills the hopper to a predetermined level therein, therebyensuring a constant spreading pattern resulting in level filling of thegrain bin.

2. In an assembly as defined in claim 1, and further wherein an openingis formed within the bottom of said pan, said opening having a maximumsize less than the width of said discharge opening, and with a devicefor adjusting the size of said pan opening from between the maximum tocompletely closing said pan opening.

piling up the material caught and held; and

rotating said caught material so as to fling it upwardly and outwardlyagainst the roof and into the bin where it falls to the floor.

5. The process of spreading granular material as defined in claim 4, andfurther directing the material as it piles up against a movable memberfor starting rotation of said caught material in response to the pilingup of the material.

1. In an enclosed grain bin having a floor, a wall, a roof, and anopening central of the roof adapted to have particulate material dumpedtheretHrough, an assembly for spreading the particulate material evenlyon and above the floor comprising: a hopper having an inlet opening at atop end thereof and a discharge opening at a bottom end thereof; meansconnected between said hopper and the roof for locating said inletopening below the roof opening to receive the material dumpedtherethrough; a pan rotatably mounted below said bottom end and capableof holding the material, the pan having an upper edge disposed higherthan the lower edge of said bottom end; means for rotating said panwhereby to throw the material therefrom; and control means attached tosaid hopper and responsive to the material therein, said control meansoperable to operate said pan rotating means only when the material hasfilled the pan to the hopper discharge opening and fills the hopper to apredetermined level therein, thereby ensuring a constant spreadingpattern resulting in level filling of the grain bin.
 2. In an assemblyas defined in claim 1, and further wherein an opening is formed withinthe bottom of said pan, said opening having a maximum size less than thewidth of said discharge opening, and with a device for adjusting thesize of said pan opening from between the maximum to completely closingsaid pan opening.
 3. In an assembly as defined in claim 2, and furtherwherein a depending circular wall is formed on the underside of said panand encompasses said opening, whereby to direct the material as it fallsthrough said pan opening upon rotation of said pan.
 4. The process ofspreading granular material dumped into a conventional grain bin havinga roof comprising: catching the dumped material; holding the caughtmaterial; piling up the material caught and held; and rotating saidcaught material so as to fling it upwardly and outwardly against theroof and into the bin where it falls to the floor.
 5. The process ofspreading granular material as defined in claim 4, and further directingthe material as it piles up against a movable member for startingrotation of said caught material in response to the piling up of thematerial.